Our Alumni Stories

The Miracles and Promises of Sobriety
Free of the Obsession
My Fellow Alumni

The Miracles and Promises of Sobriety
Teri S.

 The Betty Ford Center gave me a new life beyond my wildest dreams. I was 17 years sober on June 4, 2009. A true miracle. My husband is also sober. Miracle number two. Last week we purchased our first home together. The "Promises" are in full gear.

The love, support and tools I learned at the Center have helped me to remain sober and to experience all of the gifts of sobriety. I attend the Long Beach Alumni meeting every week. I also attend the yearly BFC anniversary weekend and can't wait to jump on that stage to pick up my chip each year. My BFC Long Beach group plans visits to the Center to visit patients, attend, and sometimes speak at the Friday night meeting.

Receiving emails, newsletters and calls from the Center to be an AA alumni contact for patients allows me to be a part of this amazing treatment center. I love the connection that they keep open to all of us. We feel like we belong to something really special.

I attend at least six AA meetings a week and love the program.

Thank you, Betty Ford, and all of your wonderful, dedicated helpers for my incredible life.

Free of the Obsession
Donna E.

I am an alumni contact located in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, and so far I have worked with two people from Betty Ford who returned to this area. I graduated from Betty Ford in August 2005, hoping to remain sober, but I slipped in January/February 2007.  I have been sober now since February 6, 2007. I embraced the program of Alcoholics Anonymous, and today my life is free of the obsession to take a drink, and my Higher Power gives me what I can handle and takes the rest. I have sponsored six women through the AA program, I currently serve as secretary for my home group, am chairperson for the Silent Auction for the LHC Roundup, I participate in taking calls through the AA Hotline, and I extend my hand any time help is needed. Recovery for me is staying active in the AA program and working the 12 Steps one day at a time. I'm grateful for the foundation that Betty Ford Center gave me.

Thank you.

My Fellow Alumni
June G.

Dear Fellow Alumni, I have been involved in some way or another with the Betty Ford Center for over 20 years. My sobriety date is 1/10/1990 and I do think very strongly that being a part of the BFC family has helped me in countless ways to not take another drink, pill or fix, no matter what, even when I thought my bottom was falling off.

I have continuously been an alumni contact for the newcomers you called me about the entire length of my sobriety, and I don't even know how many women have come into my life from that source, but it's a lot. Not that many have stayed sober, but my sponsor always said I was not responsible for the outcome - only the effort - so that has sure proved to be true.

I have attended hundreds of meetings at the Center, I have been of service for several, scores of times. I have shared my story many times at the Friday meeting, I have picked up patients on occasion and taken them to my meetings. I always go to the Anniversary Weekend events, I love that time of the year. It's so much fun to put on my finest duds and be the woman I always aspired to be. Oh, what a gift the Center is. Just like my first sponsor, also an alumnus, always said, "I went into the Center to stop the insanity my illness caused and they gave me back my life."

With the deepest gratitude.